Cutlery clip

ABSTRACT

A cutlery clip consists of a plate jaw suitable for holding an edge of a plate and a cutlery jaw suitable for grasping one or more utensils and a napkin. The plate jaw is aligned with the cutlery jaw so that cutlery grasped in the cutlery jaw is conveniently held beneath the edge of the plate to which the plate jaw is attached. A user can open the plate jaw by applying pressure to a top pivoting member of the plate jaw, allowing a plate edge to be inserted into or removed from the plate jaw, without opening the cutlery jaw. By applying more pressure to the top pivoting member, both the plate jaw and the cutlery jaw are easily opened, allowing a user to separate the utensils from the plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a specialized clip for temporarily attaching cutlery to a plate. The clip is particularly useful when participating in a buffet of food, as the user can clip cutlery items to the plate instead of holding those items separately, freeing the user's hand to serve food onto the plate.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Food buffets are popular in many contexts, including dinner parties in homes, restaurant salad and food bars, and social pot-luck dinners. Frequently, cutlery items such as forks, knives, spoons, and napkins are available to be picked up on a buffet table, together with a plate onto which food is to be served from multiple choices. However, holding a plate in one hand and cutlery items in the other hand impairs one's ability to serve food onto the plate from the buffet.

A number of devices are known in the prior art which allow utensils or cutlery items to be temporarily attached to another object. For example, U.S. Patent Application 2003/0116681 teaches a device for retaining an item of cutlery to a plate, having multiple shafts of a predetermined width so that a single item of cutlery can be pushed into whichever shaft is larger enough to hold the base of the utensil snugly. Because each shaft has a predetermined non-changeable width, some utensils will fit snugly into a shaft, and other items of different sizes will not fit well. Furthermore, this device is not equipped to hold multiple items of cutlery at once, nor capable of holding a non-rigid item such as a napkin. Another holder for attaching a single cutlery item to a plate is described in U.S. Pat. No. 178,112 to Byrkit.

Similarly U.S. Pat. No. 7,716,842 to Sumner-Trivisani, et al. provides a specialized utensil with a mechanism for attaching that utensil to a plate, which mechanism is not adequate to attach other utensils or a napkin. U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,064 to Segal describes a clip for binding a set of plastic eating utensils together, but does not provide a mechanism for holding those utensils to a plate.

Some prior devices provide a manner of attaching utensils to objects other than plates, including U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,308 to Edris and U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,668 to Hombach. Still other mechanisms allow something other than cutlery, such as stemware, to be attached to a plate, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,555 to Egan, Jr.

Other devices known in the prior art provide a specialized manner of clipping one item to another. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,434 to Rigney teaches a device for attaching writing utensils to a book and U.S. Patent Application 20070076165 concerns a device for clipping eyeglasses or an identification card to clothing. Multiple specialized clips are known for holding strands of hair, including U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,282 to Lane, U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,843 to Langohr, U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,542 to Shepard, U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,636 to Curtiss et al., and U.S. Design Pat. No. D602,200 to Pichon.

A method and apparatus are needed which will allow multiple cutlery items of various thicknesses, possibly including a napkin, to be securely attached to a plate. Ideally, the utensils would be attached in a manner that allows the cutlery to be easily grasped, could not be disturbed or knocked apart as the plate is carried through a buffet line, but permits easy removal when the utensils are to be used for eating.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a method of attaching multiple cutlery items, possibly including a napkin, fork, knife, and spoon, to a plate in a manner which allows those cutlery items to be easily attached, securely held beneath an edge of the plate where they will not interfere with food on the plate, and easily removed for use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for holding utensils to a plate which can be operated by a single hand to independently grasp the plate and grasp the cutlery.

These objects are achieved by a specialized clip which has two jaws, a plate jaw and a cutlery jaw, with one jaw positioned over the other. When the clip is in use with a plate being held face up, the top-most plate jaw is suitable for grasping an edge of the plate, while the bottom-most cutlery jaw is suitable for grasping one or more pieces of cutlery. The term “cutlery” is used herein to refer to eating tools including a napkins, knives, forks, and spoons. In this manner, the cutlery is held beneath the edge of the plate, freeing the user from holding the utensils while serving and carrying the plate. Furthermore, the cutlery is held in an advantageous position to avoid interfering with food on the plate.

A napkin may be rolled around eating utensils and secured within the cutlery jaw, to conveniently secure both the napkin and utensils. Wrapping the napkin around the utensils also serves the goal of keeping the wrapped utensils more sanitary. Ideally a napkin-wrapped set of utensils may be captured in the cutlery jaw and placed in a pile of other clips which also hold napkin-wrapped utensils. Each person coming to the buffet can easily pick up one of the clips, already holding cutlery. Because the plate jaw operates independently of the cutlery jaw, the user can push down on a lever of the plate jaw, slipping the plate jaw onto the edge of a plate, and thereby securing the napkin and utensils already held in the cutlery jaw to the bottom of the plate. When the user is ready to eat, both jaws of the clip can easily be opened by applying more force to that same lever of the plate jaw, releasing the clip from the plate and the cutlery from the clip.

The cutlery jaw has a base member, pivoting member, hinge, and spring. Similarly the plate jaw has a base member, pivoting member, hinge and spring. The base member of the plate jaw also serves as the pivoting member of the cutlery jaw, thus positioning the plate jaw directly above the cutlery jaw when the clip is attached to the edge of a plate. As the pivoting member of the plate jaw pivots around the plate jaw hinge with respect to plate base member, that plate pivoting member also pivots with respect to the cutlery jaw situated below the plate pivoting member. Thus, when pressure is applied to the lever end of the plate pivoting member, the plate jaw opens and an edge of a plate can be inserted into the plate jaw. When the plate jaw is released, the spring wrapped around the plate jaw hinge pushes the plate pivoting member towards the plate base member, securely grasping the plate. Opening and closing the plate jaw can be accomplished with one hand, while holding the clip with that same hand.

The base member of the cutlery jaw is uniquely shaped to guide a user's finger under the cutlery hinge. The plate jaw is positioned on top of the cutlery jaw so that the plate hinge is located directly above the cutlery hinge when the clip is oriented so as to hold cutlery beneath a plate. As a result of this unique configuration, pressure applied to the lever of the plate pivoting member causes the plate jaw to open prior to causing the cutlery jaw to open. Therefore, if the minimum force required to open the plate jaw is applied, only the plate jaw opens, leaving the cutlery jaw in a closed position. This allows the user to open the plate jaw and insert a plate into the plate jaw while cutlery previously inserted in the cutlery jaw is held securely. Nevertheless, when additional force is applied to the lever of the plate pivoting member, the cutlery jaw opens as well. By applying additional pressure, both jaws are opened so that the clip may be removed from the plate jaw and the cutlery removed from the cutlery jaw. Once again, this entire process can be accomplished with just the hand holding the clip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left side and back perspective view of a cutlery clip, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the cutlery clip of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a left side and back perspective view of the cutlery clip, shown attached to a plate while grasping a rolled napkin.

FIG. 4 is left side and front perspective view of the cutlery clip, showing the clip being held by and operated by a user's hand.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the cutlery clip, shown grasping a plate and a rolled napkin.

FIG. 6 is a right side and front perspective view of the cutlery clip, both the plate jaw and the cutlery jaw shown in an open position.

FIG. 7 is a left side view of the cutlery clip, the plate jaw and the cutlery jaw both shown in a closed position.

FIG. 8 is a left side view of the cutlery clip, the plate jaw shown in an open position and the cutlery jaw shown in a closed position.

FIG. 9 is a left side view of the cutlery clip, the plate jaw and the cutlery jaw both shown in an open position.

In the drawings, the following legend has been used:

10 Clip 12 Cutlery 14 Plate 16 Top side of plate 18 Bottom side of plate 20 Cutlery jaw 22 Cutlery base member 24 Cutlery pivoting member and plate base member 26 Cutlery jaw spring 28 Cutlery jaw hinge 30 Concave segment of cutlery base member 32 Apex of concave segment 34 Opposing sides of concave segment 36 Cutlery supporting segment 38 Upper surface of cutlery base member 40 Lower surface of cutlery base member 42 Plate jaw 44 Plate pivoting member 46 Plate jaw spring 48 Plate jaw hinge 50 Plate base member hinge supporting segment 52 Plate base member plate bottom engaging segment 54 Upper surface of plate base member 56 Lower surface of plate base member 58 Plate pivoting member lever segment 60 Plate pivoting member plate engaging segment 62 Upper surface of plate pivoting member 64 Lower surface of plate pivoting member 66 Cutlery base member flanges 68 Cutlery pivoting member flanges extending toward cutlery base member 70 Cutlery jaw pin 72 Plate base member flanges extending toward plate pivoting member 74 Plate pivoting member flanges 76 Plate jaw pin 78 Hole in flange 80 Ends of spring 82 Rubber coating 84 Tip of plate pivoting member plate engaging segment 86 Finger grips

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a specialized clip for attaching cutlery items to a plate in a secure, but easily removable, fashion. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. Some well-known methods and structures have not been set forth in order not to unnecessarily obscure the description of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cutlery clip 10 has a plate jaw 42 and a cutlery jaw 20. When attached to a plate 14 as shown in FIG. 3, the plate jaw 42 is positioned directly above the cutlery jaw 20. Cutlery 12, which may or may not include a napkin surrounding eating utensils as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, is easily grasped in the cutlery jaw 20, and held adjacent to the bottom side 18 of the plate 14, when the plate jaw 42 clasps the top side 16 and bottom side 18 of the plate 14.

The plate jaw 42 has a base member 24, pivoting member 44, hinge 48, and spring 46, as best shown in FIG. 2. The plate pivoting member 44 is elongated with an upper surface 62, lower surface 64, and two contiguous segments 58, 60, one of which serves as a lever 58 to which the user can apply a desired force, and the other segment 60 suitable for engaging the top 16 of an edge of a plate 14. The plate engaging segment 60 of the plate pivoting member 44 may conveniently be curved downward as shown in FIG. 6, so that a tip 84 of that plate engaging segment 60 engages the top side 16 of the plate 14. The plate engaging segment 60 may beneficially be covered with rubber or other soft substance 82 which minimizes the possibility of scratching the plate 14 while providing a secure engagement of the plate 14.

Similarly, the cutlery jaw 20 has a base member 22, pivoting member 24, hinge 28, and spring 26. To accomplish the unique functionality of the clip 10, the cutlery pivoting member 24 serves also as the base member 24 of the plate jaw 42. As a result, the clip 10 can be held and operated by a single hand, as best shown in FIG. 4, with the user having the option of opening just the plate jaw 42 as shown in FIG. 8 or both the plate jaw 42 and the cutlery jaw 20 as shown in FIG. 9 by applying different forces to the plate pivoting member lever segment 58.

As the pivoting member 44 of the plate jaw 42 pivots around the plate jaw hinge 48 with respect to plate base member 24, that plate pivoting member 44 actually pivots with respect to the cutlery jaw 20 situated below the plate pivoting member 44. Thus, when pressure is applied to the lever segment 58 of the plate pivoting member 44, the plate jaw 42 opens and an edge of a plate 14 can be inserted into the plate jaw 42. When the plate pivoting member 44 is released, the spring 46 wrapped around the plate jaw hinge 48, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, pushes the plate pivoting member 44 towards the plate base member 24, securely grasping the plate 14.

The plate base member, which is also the cutlery pivoting member 24, is elongated with an upper surface 54 and lower surface 56. The plate base member 24 has two connected segments 50, 52 one of which serves as a hinge support 50 and the other 52 which is suitable for engaging the bottom 18 of an edge of a plate 14. The plate engaging segment 52 of the plate base member 24 may conveniently be covered with rubber or other soft substance 82 which minimizes the possibility of scratching the plate 14 while providing a secure engagement of the plate 14.

While the upper surface 54 of the plate base member 24 is suitable for engaging the bottom side 18 of a plate 14, the lower surface 56 may conveniently hold cutlery 12, possibly including a fork, knife, spoon, and napkin, in the cutlery jaw 20. Utensils 12 are supported within the cutlery jaw 20 by the cutlery base member 22. That base member 22 has an upper surface 38 on which the cutlery 12 rests, and a lower surface 40. The cutlery base member 22 is uniquely shaped with a concave segment 30 connected to a cutlery supporting segment 36. The concave segment 30 has an apex 32 and two opposing sides 34 with dimensions appropriate for a user's forefinger to be held within the concave segment 30 while the user's thumb is free to operate the lever segment 58, as shown in FIG. 4. The cutlery base member 22 may advantageously be wider than the cutlery pivoting member 24, to provide better support for cutlery 12 held in the cutlery jaw 20. The cutlery jaw hinge 28 is advantageously situated on the upper surface 38 of the apex 32 of the concave segment 30 of the cutlery base member 22. The plate jaw hinge 48 is positioned on the upper surface 38 of the plate base member 24, directly above the cutlery jaw hinge 28. Thus, when a user's forefinger is held against the lower surface 40 of the apex 32 of the concave segment 30, the user's finger is held directly under the cutlery jaw hinge 28 and the plate jaw hinge 48. This positioning of the user's finger enables the user to open each jaw 20, 42 by applying pressure to the lever segment 58 with the user's thumb. When the minimal force required to open the plate jaw 42 is applied to the lever segment 58, the plate pivoting member 44 pivots upward around the plate jaw hinge 48, opening the plate jaw 42, as shown in FIG. 8. When additional force is applied by the user's thumb to the same lever segment 58, the cutlery pivoting member 24 also pivots around the cutlery jaw hinge 28 with respect to the cutlery base member 22, opening the cutlery jaw 20, as shown in FIG. 9.

As best shown in FIG. 7, protrusions or other finger grips 84 may be provided to guide and establish traction for a user's finger in an ideal position for supporting the two hinges 28, 48. Placement of the user's finger within the apex 32 of the concave segment 30 supplies a force directly opposing the force applied by the user's thumb to the lever segment 58, allowing the user to open the plate jaw 42 by applying an appropriate force to the lever segment 58 or to open both the plate jaw 42 and cutlery jaw 20 by applying a greater force to the lever segment 58.

The cutlery jaw hinge 28 may conveniently consist of:

-   -   two or more base member flanges 66 attached to the apex 32 of         the concave segment 30, extending upwards from the upper surface         38 of the cutlery base member 22,     -   two or more pivoting member flanges 68 attached to the lower         surface 56 of the cutlery pivoting member 24 and extending         towards the cutlery base member 22, and     -   a cutlery jaw pin 70 inserted in aligning holes 78 formed in         each flange 66, 68.

The cutlery jaw spring 26 may advantageously be a coil spring wrapped around the cutlery jaw pin 70 with the ends 80 of that spring 26 contacting the cutlery base member 22 and the cutlery pivoting member 24, to push the cutlery base member 22 and cutlery pivoting member 24 toward each other. As a result, when no pressure is applied to the lever segment 58, the cutlery jaw spring 26 forces the cutlery jaw 20 into a closed position suitable for holding cutlery 12.

The plate jaw hinge 48 may conveniently consist of:

-   -   two or more base member flanges 72 attached to the hinge         supporting segment 50 of the plate base member 24, extending         upwards from the upper surface 54 of the plate base member 24,     -   two or more pivoting member flanges 74 attached to the lower         surface 64 of the plate pivoting member 44 and extending towards         the plate base member 24, and     -   a plate jaw pin 76 inserted in aligning holes 78 formed in each         flange 72, 74.

The plate jaw spring 46 may advantageously be a coil spring wrapped around the plate jaw pin 76 with the ends 80 of that spring 46 contacting the plate base member 24 and the plate pivoting member 44, to push the plate base member 24 and plate pivoting member 44 toward each other. As a result, when no pressure is applied to the lever segment 58, the plate jaw spring 46 forces the plate jaw 42 into a closed position suitable for grasping a plate 14.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of the presently preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is purely illustrative and is not to be interpreted as limiting. Consequently, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, various alterations, modifications, or alternative applications of the invention will, no doubt, be suggested to those skilled in the art after having read the preceding disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted as encompassing all alterations, modifications, or alternative applications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A clip for removably attaching cutlery to a plate, comprising: a. Cutlery jaw having cutlery base member, cutlery pivoting member, cutlery spring, and cutlery hinge, such that said cutlery pivoting member pivots around said cutlery hinge with respect to said cutlery base member, and such that said cutlery spring applies pressure urging the cutlery pivoting member toward the cutlery base member, causing the cutlery jaw to grasp cutlery inserted within the cutlery jaw, b. Plate jaw having plate base member, plate pivoting member, plate spring, and plate hinge, such that said plate pivoting member pivots around said plate hinge with respect to said plate base member, and such that said plate spring applies pressure urging the plate pivoting member toward the plate base member, causing the plate jaw to grasp the plate inserted within the plate jaw, and c. wherein said plate base member is also said cutlery pivoting member.
 2. A clip according to claim 1, wherein said cutlery base member has a concave segment with an apex and opposing sides suitable for receiving a user's finger and a cutlery supporting segment suitable for supporting the cutlery extending from one side of the concave segment, and has an upper surface and a lower surface.
 3. A clip according to claim 2, wherein said cutlery hinge is attached to the upper surface of the concave segment of the cutlery base member.
 4. A clip according to claim 3, wherein said plate base member has a hinge supporting segment and a plate bottom engaging segment suitable for engaging bottom surface of the plate, and has an upper surface and a lower surface.
 5. A clip according to claim 4, wherein said plate hinge is attached to the upper surface of said hinge supporting segment of said plate base member and said cutlery hinge is attached to the lower surface of said hinge supporting segment of said plate base member, so that the plate hinge is aligned above the cutlery hinge.
 6. A clip according to claim 5, wherein said plate pivoting member has a lever segment and a plate engaging segment suitable for engaging top surface of the plate, and has an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein said plate hinge is attached to the lower surface of the lever segment of the plate pivoting member.
 7. A clip according to claim 6, wherein said cutlery hinge further comprises: a. dual base member flanges extending from said cutlery base member toward said cutlery pivoting member, each flange having a hole formed therein, b. dual pivoting member flanges extending from said cutlery pivoting member toward said cutlery base member, each flange having a hole formed therein, c. cutlery jaw pin, c. wherein said base member flanges and pivoting member flanges are aligned to allow the cutlery jaw pin to be inserted through each hole formed in each flange, parallel to the lower surface of the cutlery pivoting member and parallel to the upper surface of the cutlery base member.
 8. A clip according to claim 7, wherein said plate hinge further comprises: a. dual base member flanges extending from said plate base member toward said plate pivoting member, each flange having a hole formed therein, b. dual pivoting member flanges extending from said plate pivoting member toward said plate base member, each flange having a hole formed therein, c. plate jaw pin, c. wherein said base member flanges and pivoting member flanges are aligned to allow the plate jaw pin to be inserted through each hole formed in each flange, parallel to the lower surface of the plate pivoting member and parallel to the upper surface of the plate base member.
 9. A clip according to claim 8, wherein said cutlery spring further comprises a cutlery coil spring wrapped around the cutlery jaw pin such that opposite ends of the cutlery spring are in forceful contact with the plate base member and the cutlery base member, holding the plate bottom engaging segment toward the cutlery supporting segment when no external pressure is applied to said plate pivoting member lever segment.
 10. A clip according to claim 9, wherein said plate spring further comprises a plate coil spring wrapped around the plate jaw pin such that opposite ends of the plate spring are in forceful contact with the plate base member and the plate pivoting member, holding the plate pivoting member plate engaging segment toward the plate base member plate bottom engaging segment when no external pressure is applied to said plate pivoting member lever segment.
 11. A clip according to claim 6, wherein applying a first pressure to said plate pivoting member lever segment causes said plate jaw to open and applying a second pressure to said plate pivoting member lever segment causes said plate jaw and said cutlery jaw to open.
 12. A clip according to claim 6, wherein said plate engaging segment of said plate pivoting member is rubber coated.
 13. A clip according to claim 6, wherein said plate bottom engaging segment of said plate base member is rubber coated.
 14. A clip according to claim 6, wherein said cutlery supporting segment of said cutlery base member is rubber coated.
 15. A clip according to claim 2, further comprising finger grip members positioned on said apex of said concave segment of said cutlery base member for guiding a user's finger beneath said apex.
 16. A method of removably attaching cutlery to a plate, comprising the steps of: a. Opening a cutlery jaw to receive cutlery, b. Allowing a cutlery jaw spring to urge a cutlery pivoting member toward a cutlery base member of said cutlery jaw, grasping the cutlery within said cutlery jaw, c. Opening a plate jaw to receive an edge of a plate, d. Allowing a plate jaw spring to urge a plate pivoting member toward a plate base member, grasping the plate within said plate jaw, e. Wherein said plate jaw is positioned directly above said cutlery jaw and said plate pivoting member is also said cutlery base member. 